Just moved up to Marin from Socal. In LA, I was blessed with great coffee all over the place (Intelli, Klatch, Cafe Luxe, etc.). In the 3 tries I've made up here so far, each was worse than the next. I'm hoping to find a great cafe that can pull a real shot of espresso and that can source me with good (non-super dark roast) beans. If you know of any places either in Marin or north SF (Presidio), please help!

I saw Equator in downtown Mill Valley. I checked out their website and they seem to not be quite up to the usual standard around hear. (example, they don't have much of a focus on freshness/ time since roast date, they have several dark roasts, they have a ton of coffees, they seem to sell alot of preground coffee etc.) However they also had alot of lighter roast coffees and alot of single origins so I don't know. Since you have experience with it is it really good or is it just the best you can get in the area? My impression before you recommended it was that they are kind of an old school roaster trying to bring in some of the third wave crowd, while trying to hang on to their mainstream Starbuck group too? More details?

I have had good espresso from Equator beans, its good stuff at reasonable prices. They are a roaster that is mainly a wholesale roaster, the Mill Valley is their only shop, newly opened no less, and they have been around since the 1990s. They are good, just because they roast some dark doesn't mean they are bad.

As far as downtown San Rafael, I am happy to see the build out for Taylor Maid inside the Copperfield's bookstore is almost complete. Should be at the very least a decent place to get coffee, hopefully more.

I saw Equator in downtown Mill Valley. I checked out their website and they seem to not be quite up to the usual standard around hear. (example, they don't have much of a focus on freshness/ time since roast date, they have several dark roasts, they have a ton of coffees, they seem to sell alot of preground coffee etc.) However they also had alot of lighter roast coffees and alot of single origins so I don't know. Since you have experience with it is it really good or is it just the best you can get in the area? My impression before you recommended it was that they are kind of an old school roaster trying to bring in some of the third wave crowd, while trying to hang on to their mainstream Starbuck group too? More details?

Equator rocks. They roast coffee for people of all sorts. Their Tigerwalk espresso is decent, lots of dark chocolate and sweetness. I've always had great shots whenever I'm in the area for a stop at Proof Lab.

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